Yard hydrant

ABSTRACT

A yard hydrant is designed to eliminate the standard drain hole in devices of this type. Water in the standpipe that previously drained to the outside when the hydrant is closed is collected in a self-contained reservoir and is available for use. The reservoir is of an expandable bellows structure arranged to expand with the closing of the hydrant valve to accommodate the drain water and to compress with the opening of the hydrant valve so that the stored water passes through the standpipe and out of the hydrant nozzle with the incoming water. The standpipe, bellows chamber and hydrant valve are so attached to the hydrant head that they can be conveniently withdrawn as a unit from the hydrant casing for repairs or maintenance.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 Ilnited States Patent [1 1 Anderson et al.

Primary ExaminerMartin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard[54] YARD HYDRANT Inventors: Noel M. Anderson, Storm Lake;

a l: Otto Lakeslde both of Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morton S. Adler [73]Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Storm Lake, Iowa Sept. 18, 1974 ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

A ard h drant is desi ned to eliminate the standard 21 A LN .:50695 y yg I 1 PP O 6 drain hole in devices of this type. Water in the standpipethat previously drained to the outside when the [52] US. Cl-

13 /281; 137/233; /287; hydrant is closed is collected in aself-contained reser- 137/2 /327 voir and is available for. use. Thereservoir is of an expandable bellows structure arranged to expand withdate the drain water and to compress with the opening of the hydrantvalve so that the stored water passes through [51] E03B 9/04 [58] Fieldof Search 137/272, 281, 286, 287, 137/288, 299, 301308, 326-328, 217,218;

the closing of the hydrant valve to accommo the standpipe and out of thehydrant nozzle with the References Cited incoming water. The standpipe,bellows chamber and UNITED STATES PATENTS hydrant valve are so attachedto the hydrant head that they can be conveniently withdrawn as a unitfrom the hydrant casing for repairs or maintenance.

X 7 on 2 7 3 1 Papacek..............,.....,.....

Anderson........,.......

Murdock et a1. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures 704,949 3/1931 France................................137/28] US.Patent Dec. 16, 1975 III Sheet 1 of 2 US. Patent DC.16,1975 Sheet20f2YARD HYDRANT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to yardhydrants and more particularly to an improvement in hydrant structurewherein the traditional drain hole in such devices is completelyeliminated and the water that heretofore drained away to the outside iscollected in a self-contained reservoir and can be subsequently used.

The value and utility of yard hydrants have long been recognized withmuch of the hydrant art dating back to the late l800s and early 1900 sand illustrations particularly of the yard hydrant art can be found inthe patents of one of the applicants here, Noel M. Anderson, US. Pat.Nos. 2,649,768, 2,649,111, 3,523,549 and 3,672,392. Characteristicallyof yard hydrants has been the presence of a drain hole at the bottom ofthe standpipe to carry away water left in such pipe after the valve isclosed so that the water is dissipated into the surrounding ground.Notwithstanding the efficiency of such hydrant structures including thedraining away of water as indicated, it appears that continuingattention to matters of sanitation, water purity and the like by thoseconcerned with such art and also certain governmental regulatory bodies,indicate that the presence of a drain hole while affording a means todispel water in the standpipe after the valve is closed, can also be ameans for the reentry of water into the hydrant to be intermixed withother water passing therethrough. Under such conditions, the possibilityof contamination from impure seepage can result in deleterious effectsupon the consumer and, accordingly, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a yard hydrant which has no drain hole to theoutside so as to eliminate the possibility of any water seepage from theoutside ground into the hydrant.

Another object herein is to provide a yard hydrant of the above classwhich includes a self-contained reservoir into which water in thestandpipe that heretofore drained to the outside when the hydrant valvewas closed, can be accommodated and stored for future use. Moreparticularly in this regard the reservoir provided is of an expandablebellows structure which expands when the hydrant is closed and contractswhen the hydrant is open.

A further object is to provide a yard hydrant as characterized whereinthe standpipe, bellows chamber and valve assembly is so constructed,connected and armay appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, to-

gether with the advantages of this invention will be more fullydiscussed and developed in the more detailed description of theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thisnew yard hydrant with the handle shown in the on position,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the hydrant shownin FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the handle inits off" position,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the hydrant shownin FIG. 3,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, thisnew yard hydrant is designated generally by the numeral 10 and, as seenin FIGS. 1 and 3, includes an elongated upstanding outer casing 12 whichhouses certain of the working components as will later be described indetail, and a nozzle head assembly 14 journalled on the upper end ofcasing 12 and vertically reciprocal thereon as will appear, by thehandle unit 16. The lower end of casing 12 is securely affixed in anysuitable manner as by the threaded engagement 18 (FIGS. 2 and 4) to anappropriate cap-like fitting 20 having the down pipe portion 22 forconnection to an underground source of water under pressure (not shown)in a well known manner. As a part of fitting 20 there is provided anaxial orifice plug 24 having the externally threaded neck 26 extendinginto chamber 28 at the bottom of casing 12 and which neck has thefurther reduced portion 30. An axial bore or passageway 32 through plug24 communicates with pipe 22 and with chamber 28.

It is to be noted that hydrant 10 is provided with no drain hole to theoutside at the lower end of casing 12 which has heretofore been astandard provision in bydrants of this type and reference is now madeparticularly to FIGS. 2 and 4 relative to our improved bellows reservoirchamber assembly 34 to accommodate water previously allowed to drain outand which we shall now describe.

A cylinder 36, open at opposite ends, of any suitable material which mayinclude metal or plastic, is journalled in the lower portion of casing12 so that the bottom end is disposed within chamber 28. The upper endof cylinder 36 is notched 38 at oppositely disposed points for reasonsto be later explained. Journalled within cylinder 36 is thecylindrically shaped bellows chamber or reservoir 40 designed as willappear, for compression as seen in FIG. 2 and for expansion as seen inFIG. 4. Bellows 40 are in contact with the inner wall of cylinder 36which serves to keep it confined and contained against radial expansionunder water pressure as will become apparent.

The lower end of bellows 40 includes the integral projecting neck 42into which is mounted the valve housing 44 that in turn is threadablyattached to the external threads 26 of plug 24 in a sealed arrangementprovided by the O-ring 46. A metal washer 48 encircles neck 42 and valvehousing 44 in abutment with the lowermost bellow fold of bellows 40 anda hose clamp 50 around neck 42 and housing 44 directly below washer 48secures the lower end of bellows assembly 34 to the valve housing 44.The periphery of washer 48 nests within the bottom inner edge ofcylinder 36 and if the parts are of metal, they may be welded orattached by screws and if of plastic, a solvent weld can be used in awell known manner. Thus, by this arrangement, washer 48 provides anadequate stop at the bottom of bellows 40 relative to its expansion andcontraction.

The valve housing 44 includes a lower chamber 52 in flow communicationwith passageway 32 and an upper chamber 54in flow communication withchamber 52 through the valve seat 56 and with the interior of thebellows reservoir 40. A spring loaded check valve 58 is arranged in awell known manner relative to chambers 52 and 54 so that normally, valveend 60 is seated against the underside of seat 56 in closed position andis unseated or moved to open position by pressure from above as willappear.

The upper end of the bellows assembly 34 operates in cooperation withthe nozzle head assembly 14 to which reference is now made. Assembly 14includes a nozzle 62, and an integral nozzle head section 64 from whichthere depends the integral cylindrical sleeve 66 open at its bottom end68. The water passageway 70 in nozzle 62 terminates in an upper chamber72 in head 64 which in turn communicates with a lower chamber 74 throughvalve seat 76. A spring loaded check valve 78 is mounted in chamber 72relative to seat 76 and is closed (FIG. 4) when hydrant is closed andopen under water pressure (FIG. 2) when hydrant 10 is open all of whichwill be referred to later in more detail including.

the purpose of the air flow check 'valve 80 provided in the outside wallto the upper chamber 72.

Sleeve 66 is slip-fitted over the top of casing 12 for verticalreciprocal movement thereon as will appear and an elongated standpipe 82is secured at its upper end by fitting 84 to head section 64 so as to bein flow communication with the lower chamber 74 and extends downwardlyto terminate at its lower end 86 well within the interior of bellows 40and in axial alignment with valve 58. One or more through lateralopenings 88 are provided in the wall of standpipe 82 at end 86 about theperiphery thereof and an air check valve 89 is provided in the outsidewall to the lower chamber 74 in head section 64 in communication withstandpipe 82.

At the upper end of the bellows assembly 34 where standpipe 82 entersthe same, bellows 40 are provided with a reduced neck portion 90,similar to neck 42 at the lower end, which embraces a fitting 92securely affixed to standpipe 82, and a metal washer 94, similar towasher 48 and functioning as a stop, encircles neck 90 and fitting 92 inabutment with the uppermost bellow fold of bellows 40 where it is lockedin place by a hose clamp 96. Also secured to standpipe 82 at a pointspaced above fitting 92 and above the plane of the upper end of cylinder36, is a disc-shaped key 98 having opposed turned down lug portions 100for engaging notches 38 in cylinder 36 which will be further describedin the operation of this hydrant.

Handle unit 16 is designed to reciprocate the nozzle assembly 14together with standpipe 82 as will appear and for this purpose includesa bail 102 having the respective right angle parallel crank arms 104positioned astraddle of sleeve 66 and pivotally secured thereto as at106 whereby bail 102 can be moved upwardly and across the top of heatsection 64 (FIG. 1) and downwardly along the side of sleeve 66 (FIG. 3).A pair of opposed elongated like rigid links 108 (of which only one isshown) are each pivotally secured at corresponding ends to therespective crank arms 104 as at 110 being approximately the juncture ofbail 102 ends and crank arms 104 and at their opposite ends, links 108are pivotally attached as at 112 to a 'ring or band 114 securely affixedto casing 12 below the plane of end 68 of sleeve 66. A knob 116 issecured to bail 102 to facilitate the operation of unit 16 and thus withhydrant 10 constructed and arranged as described, it is operated in thefollowing manner.

Operation Hydrant 10 in the usual arrangement for devices of this typeis mounted upright in the ground as shown where a substantial portion ofthe casing 12 is buried for connection to the underground Water supplyand where the portion of the casing 12 which houses the bellows assembly34 is below the frost line. Since the depth of the frost line may varyin different geographical locations, it will be understood that thelength of casing 12 will be fabricated accordingly. The nozzle 62 ispreferably approximately 2 feet above the ground level although thismay, of course, be varied.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, hydrant 10 is shown in the on positionfor delivery of water through standpipe 82 and out of nozzle 62. Here,bail 102 of handle unit 16 is moved upwardly across the head section 64whereby crank arms 104 move to their lowermost position relative tolinks 108 causing sleeve 66 to slide downwardly on casing 12 and at thesame time, moving the standpipe 82 downwardly into engagement with valve58 to unseat it from seat 56 and open flow communication from passageway32 through standpipe 82 into chamber 74 of the head section 64. Suchwater flow under pressure opens valve 78 into chamber 72 so that flowenters passageway out of nozzle 62. In the downward movement ofstandpipe 82, the arrangement of fitting 92 and washer 94 acts againstthe upper end of the bellows reservoir 40 to compress it as shown inFIG. 2 and further eflects of this will be explained after the followingreference to the off position of hydrant 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

By the movement of bail 102 from the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to theposition in FIGS. 3 and 4, the direction of movement of sleeve 66 andstandpipe 82 is reversed or upwardly which simultaneously retractsstandpipe 82 from engagement with valve 58 so that such valve closesunder its spring pressure and extends or expands the bellows reservoir40 to enlarge its interior area as seen in FIG. 4. As this occurs, valve78 in head section chamber 72, being free of water pressure,automatically closes and water in standpipe 82 will drain down such pipefor collection and storage in the expanded bellows reservoir 40. Suchdrainage is expedited by air intake under atmospheric pressure throughthe air check valve 89 which is otherwise held closed by water pressurethrough chamber 74 when valve 58 is open. 7

The air check valve into head chamber 72 functions similarly to checkvalve 89 when hydrant 10 is closed and is designed particularly toassure drainage of nozzle 62 if a length of hose (not shown) should attimes be left attached to nozzle 62 as frequently occurs. Without anysuch attached hose, nozzle 62 will easily drain when the hydrant isclosed but experience has shown this does not always properly occur witha hose attached and thus valve 80 is provided to assure proper drainagewhen required.

With the bellows reservoir 40 storing water from standpipe 82 asdescribed in the off position shown in FIG. 4, the compression orretraction of reservoir 40 (FIG. 2) as the on position of the hydrant iseffected, results in the stored water reentering the standpipe 82through holes 88 where it is co-mingled with the new supply and canthereby be fully used without any waste or exposure to any contaminatingsource from outside of the casing 12. By this arrangement, it will beappreciated that hydrant 10 functions adequately without the traditionaldrain hole, is completely sealed from the surrounding terrain and thatthe stored standpipe water is held below the frost line where it is safefrom freezing and available for future use. i

With reference now more particularlyto FIGS. 2 and 5, it will be notedthat in the illustrated position of the hydrant 10, the lugs 100 on thedisc key 98 are; nested in the notches 38 at the upper end of cylinder36. Thus, by disconnecting the links 108 from bail 102, assembly 14 canbe rotated counterclockwise for the following purpose. Such rotationrotates standpipe 82 about its longitudinal axis whereby lugs 100 rotatecylinder 36 that is secured to valve housing 44 and disengages suchhousing from the external threads 26 on plug 24. Accordingly, withhousing 44 turned free of plug 24, the standpipe 82, bellows assembly 34and housing 44 together with valve 58 can be quickly and easily withdrawn as a unit for repairs or maintenance. Such parts are reinserted inthe reverse order of their removal. Thus, in view of all of theforegoing, it is thought a full understanding of the construction andoperation of this invention will be had and the advantages of the samewill be appreciated.

We claim:

1. A yard hydrant, comprising:

a casing having an upper and lower end,

a valve housing with a spring loaded valve means therein in the lowerend of said casing and opera tively connected to a source of fluid underpressure,

a head section including an integral nozzle,

means for arranging said head section relative to the upper end of saidcasing for vertical reciprocation relative thereto,

a longitudinal expandable and retractible bellows fluid reservoir havingan upper and lower end arranged within said casing,

a standpipe within said casing having one end secured to said headsection in flow communication therewith and its other end extendedthrough the upper end of said reservoir and terminating within saidreservoir,

said standpipe being vertically reciprocal with corre sponding movementof said head section,

a respective integral axial projecting lower neck portion and upper neckportion at the respective lower and upper ends of said bellowsreservoir,

said upper neck portion embracing said standpipe and said lower neckportion embracing said valve housing,

a first stop member embracing said lower neck portion and said valvehousing and in abutment with the lower end of said bellows reservoirincluding means for locking said stop member in said position,

a second stop member embracing said upper neck portion and saidstandpipe and in abutment with the upper end of said bellows reservoirincluding means for locking said stop member in said position,

the downwardly movement of said standpipe effecting the retraction andcompression of said reservoir and with said other end of said standpipeacting against said valve means to open fluid flow through said hydrant,and

the upwardly movement of said standpipe elevating the same from contactwith said valve means permitting it to close and simultaneouslyexpanding said reservoir whereby fluid in said standpipe upon closing ofsaid valve means drains therefrom into said reservoir for storage.

2. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 including said standpipe beingprovided at its lower end with a lateral opening whereby with fluidstored in said expanded bellows reservoir while said valve means isclosed, the movement of said standpipe for opening said valve means andsimultaneously compressing said bellows reservoir causes the storedfluid to enter said standpipe through said lateral opening for reuse andcommingling with fluid from the supply source for passage. out of saidnozzle.

3. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 including:

a cylinder having an upperand lower end and arranged in the lower end ofsaid casing in embracing relationship to said bellows reservoir to holdit against radial expansion, and

means for operatively securing the lower end of said cylinder to saidvalve housing.

4. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 including:

a cylinder having an upper and lower end and arranged in the lower endof said casing in embracing relationship to said bellows reservoir tohold it against radial expansion,

means for securing the lower end of said cylinder to said first stopmember, and

said secondstop member being vertically reciprocal within said cylinderwith corresponding movements of said standpipe.

5. A yard hydrant, comprising:

a casing having an upper and lower end,

a valve housing with a spring loaded valve means therein in the lowerend of said casing and operatively connected to a source of fluid underpressure,

a head section including an integral nozzle,

means for arranging said head section relative to the upper end of saidcasing for vertical reciprocation and rotation relative thereto,

a longitudinal expandable and retractible bellows fluid reservoir havingan upper and lower end arranged within said casing including meansattaching the lower end of said reservoir to said valve housing,

a standpipe within said. casing having one end secured to said headsection in flow communication therewith and its other end extendedthrough the upper end of said reservoir and terminating within saidreservoir,

said standpipe being vertically reciprocal with corresponding movementof said head section,

means connecting the upper end of said reservoir to said standpipe forexpansion and retraction with respective upwardly and downwardlymovements of said standpipe,

the downwardly movement of said standpipe effecting the retraction andcompression of said reservoir and with said other end of said standpipeacting against said valve means to open fluid flow through said hydrant,

the upwardly movement of said standpipe elevating the same from contactwith said valve means permitting it to close and simultaneouslyexpanding said reservoir whereby fluid in said standpipe upon closing ofsaid valve means drains therefrom into said reservoir for storage,

a fitting means secured to the lower end of said casing and adapted forflow communication with the source of fluid under pressure,

said fitting means having an orifice plug with an externally threadedneck extended into the lower end of said casing, and

said valve housing being removably threadably attached to said threadedneck whereby an assembly comprising said head section, standpipe,bellows reservoir and valve housing with valve means can be manuallyrotated to remove said valve housing from said fitting means to permitwithdrawal from said casing as a unit said assembly for purposes ofrepair or maintenance,

6. A yard hydrant as defined in claim including:

a cylinder having an upper and lower end arranged in the lower end ofsaid casing in embracing relationship to said bellows reservoir to holdit against radial expansion,

means for operatively securing the lower end of said cylinder to saidvalve housing,

the upper end of said cylinder being provided with a notch,

a lug key secured to said standpipe at a point thereon whereby indownwardly movement of said standpipe said lug key is engaged in saidnotch to effect a turning force at the upper end of the cylinder andfacilitate the removal of said assembly including said cylinder.

1. A yard hydrant, comprising: a casing having an upper and lower end, avalve housing with a spring loaded valve means therein in the lower endof said casing and operatively connected to a source of fluid underpressure, a head section including an integral nozzle, means forarranging said head section relative to the upper end of said casing forvertical reciprocation relative thereto, a longitudinal expandable andretractible bellows fluid reservoir having an upper and lower endarranged within said casing, a standpipe within said casing having oneend secured to said head section in flow communication therewith and itsother end extended through the upper end of said reservoir andterminating within said reservoir, said standpipe being verticallyreciprocal with corresponding movement of said head section, arespective integral axial projecting lower neck portion and upper neckportion at the respective lower and upper ends of said bellowsreservoir, said upper neck portion embracing said standpipe and saidlower neck portion embracing said valve housing, a first stop memberembracing said lower neck portion and said valve housing and in abutmentwith the lower end of said bellows reservoir including means for lockingsaid stop member in said position, a second stop member embracing saidupper neck portion and said standpipe and in abutment with the upper endof said bellows reservoir including means for locking said stop memberin said position, the downwardly movement of said standpipe effectingthe retraction and compression of said reservoir and with said other endof said standpipe acting against said valve means to open fluid flowthrough said hydrant, and the upwardly movement of said standpipeelevating the same from contact with said valve means permitting it toclose and simultaneously expanding said reservoir whereby fluid in saidstandpipe upon closing of said valve means drains therefrom into saidreservoir for storage.
 2. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 includingsaid standpipe being provided at its lower end with a lateral openingwhereby with fluid stored in said expanded bellows reservoir while saidvalve means is closed, the movement of said standpipe for opening saidvalve means and simultaneously compressing said bellows reservoir causesthe stored fluid to enter said standpipe through said lateral openingfor reuse and commingling with fluid from the supply source for passageout of said nozzle.
 3. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 including: acylinder having an upper and lower end and arranged in the lower end ofsaid casing in embracing relationship to said bellows reservoir to holdit against radial expansion, and means for operatively securing thelower end of said cylinder to said valve housing.
 4. A yard hydrant asdefined in claim 1 including: a cylinder having an upper and lower endand arranged in the lower end of said casing in embracing relationshipto said bellows reservoir to hold it against radial expansion, means forsecuring the lower end of said cylinder to said first stop member, andsaid second stop member being vertically reciprocal within said cylinderwith corresponding movements of said standpipe.
 5. A yard hydrant,comprising: a casing having an upper and lower end, a valve housing witha spring loaded valve means therein in the lower end of said casing andoperatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a headsection including an integral nozzle, means for arranging said headsection relative to the upper end of said casing for verticalreciprocation and rotation relative thereto, a longitudinal expandableand retractible bellows fluid reservoir having an upper and lower endarranged within said casing including means attaching the Lower end ofsaid reservoir to said valve housing, a standpipe within said casinghaving one end secured to said head section in flow communicationtherewith and its other end extended through the upper end of saidreservoir and terminating within said reservoir, said standpipe beingvertically reciprocal with corresponding movement of said head section,means connecting the upper end of said reservoir to said standpipe forexpansion and retraction with respective upwardly and downwardlymovements of said standpipe, the downwardly movement of said standpipeeffecting the retraction and compression of said reservoir and with saidother end of said standpipe acting against said valve means to openfluid flow through said hydrant, the upwardly movement of said standpipeelevating the same from contact with said valve means permitting it toclose and simultaneously expanding said reservoir whereby fluid in saidstandpipe upon closing of said valve means drains therefrom into saidreservoir for storage, a fitting means secured to the lower end of saidcasing and adapted for flow communication with the source of fluid underpressure, said fitting means having an orifice plug with an externallythreaded neck extended into the lower end of said casing, and said valvehousing being removably threadably attached to said threaded neckwhereby an assembly comprising said head section, standpipe, bellowsreservoir and valve housing with valve means can be manually rotated toremove said valve housing from said fitting means to permit withdrawalfrom said casing as a unit said assembly for purposes of repair ormaintenance.
 6. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 5 including: acylinder having an upper and lower end arranged in the lower end of saidcasing in embracing relationship to said bellows reservoir to hold itagainst radial expansion, means for operatively securing the lower endof said cylinder to said valve housing, the upper end of said cylinderbeing provided with a notch, a lug key secured to said standpipe at apoint thereon whereby in downwardly movement of said standpipe said lugkey is engaged in said notch to effect a turning force at the upper endof the cylinder and facilitate the removal of said assembly includingsaid cylinder.